February 15 is the last day to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act at healthcare.gov. Many people have questions about health care coverage. If your nonprofit serves or employs people, please share this information with them. Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin, a corporate member of the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee, provides health care to individuals and families covered by government programs. They are offering free enrollment assistance events to the public before the February 15 deadline, listed at the end of the article.

With open enrollment closing in less than two weeks, Wisconsin residents have the opportunity to visit the online Federal Health Insurance Exchange – also known as the Marketplace – to explore their health care options. Marketplace provides individuals with competitive health insurance plans for 2015 that will fit their health care needs.

The health insurance Marketplace is a valuable resource for individuals to compare benefits and costs that are within their budget. The open enrollment deadline is February 15, 2015, so there is still time to choose a plan even for people who did not sign up before December 15, 2014. Eligible individuals who do not have health insurance must choose a plan or pay a penalty with their 2015 tax returns. For 2015, the penalty is either 2% of a person’s income or $325 per adult ($162.50 per child), whichever is higher. Some people qualify for a fee exemption based on income or other situations. Individuals can still avoid the bulk of the penalty if they sign up by February 15, 2015.

Avoiding a tax penalty should not be the main reason to choose a health plan. There are many other good reasons. First of all, health insurance can make it easier and less expensive to manage one’s health. People with health insurance receive free preventive care including vaccines, screenings, and checkups. Individuals also pay less for doctor visits and have other health care benefits offered by their health plans. Having medical insurance also helps people avoid the high costs that come with unexpected medical care or hospitalization.

Registering for health insurance is a simple process. You can register online at www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to speak with a representative. Nearly 140,000 people in Wisconsin purchased private health insurance through the Federal Exchange for 2014, and this year’s software programs have been refined and upgraded to make registering easier. There are also many organizations across Wisconsin, including Molina, that assist the public with open enrollment.

Below are the Molina Healthcare enrollment assistance events in Milwaukee. If you have questions about these sessions please call Ted Anderson at (414) 239-3933.